July 4th at Iolani Palace: Protest, Memory, and Resistance

On the 4th of July we attended a ceremony to draw attention to the injustice done to the Hawaiian kingdom on the same day many Americans associate with freedom. This celebration is perhaps emblematic of the disagreements between individuals in the Hawaiian community on what it means for individuals from an illegally annexed territory to be considered "American."

The ceremony began with an Oli, or chant in Olelo Hawaiʻi, by Kumu Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, an activist in the Hawaiian community. We listened in silence along with the rest of the community members present.

After, there was a reenactment of the establishment of the Republic of Hawaiʻi, with Stanford Dole, the cousin of "Pineapple King" James Dole, elected as president. The audience members continuously booed, yelling out "hewa, hewa!", which means to commit a wrong or a deep offense. The atmosphere was lively, and despite the disdain in the air, there was a sense of playfulness and community, even the family dogs joining in to bark as the actor playing Sanford Dole declared Hawaiʻi must be placed in the hands of a provisional government for its own good.

After Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown in 1893, a provisional government of plantation owners and other elites such as Sanford B. Dole took over, holding a constitutional convention that was presented on July 4th, 1894. This provisional government, became the Republic of Hawaiʻi, which stayed in power for five years until Hawaiʻi was annexed by the United States in 1898.

The reenactment featured actors representing Dole, as well as other members of the Committee of Safety which established the Provisional government. The location of the ceremony was significant as well, taking place on the steps of Iolani Palace, where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned in a single room on the second floor for almost a year. As the actors discussed the signing of the constitution, on the steps of Iolani Palace, an actress in the role of Queen Liliʻuokalani stood to the side, narrating her pain and the pain of her people at the loss of their sovereignty and way of life. The actress playing Queen Liliʻuokalani proceeded to sing a beautiful mele, as the Queen was a talented composer herself.

After the play, there was a series of speakers, dancers, and singers. This event continued well into the afternoon. It was not a day of celebration but an event of protest and community building. Showing that while the 4th of July is a celebration of independence for some, for Native Hawaiians it signifies the continued illegal overthrow and occupation of the Hawaiian Kingdom.